Chihuahua News –
-The agency emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis to allow timely treatment and improve patients’ quality of life.
Luis Enrique Reyes, state coordinator of the Mycobacteriosis and Chronic Respiratory Diseases Program, briefed citizens on identifying the main symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to raise awareness about the disease.
Health experts explain that this lung disease is progressive and potentially fatal and is characterized by a persistent reduction in airflow that is initially associated with effort but increases over time until it occurs also at rest.
People with this disease experience severe dyspnea (difficulty breathing), cough, and expectoration (mucus) that may last from days to weeks. These events can cause severe disability and require emergency medical care (even hospitalization), as they can sometimes be fatal.
People with the above disease are suspected of having it and have it confirmed with a test called spirometry, which in this study measures the volume of breath taken at maximal effort and the speed of exhaling air.
COPD, previously recorded as “chronic bronchitis” and “emphysema,” cannot be cured, but through medication and physical therapy, symptoms can be relieved, exercise capacity and quality of life improved, and the risk of death reduced.
The main cause of this condition is exposure to tobacco smoke, whether by active or passive smokers. In addition, other risk factors are: indoor air pollution, such as wood smoke and heating; outdoor air pollution; occupational exposure to dust and chemicals, such as vapors, irritants and gases; and recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in childhood.
The most effective and cheapest treatment for smokers is to quit smoking or limit their exposure to other risk factors mentioned above, as it slows the progression of the disease and reduces mortality.
In 2023, a total of 724 patients were diagnosed and treated throughout the year, and 183 new confirmed cases were reported, including 67 cases among people aged 60 to 64 years old and 116 cases among people over 65 years old.
COPD progresses slowly and usually becomes apparent after age 40 or 50. While it was previously predominant in men, today it affects both sexes almost equally, so it is important to visit the nearest medical facility if you experience any of the above symptoms.
